Chapter 34: A Promise

Airi leaves the room as I sit on my bed wondering what to do next. The infection in my arm is active again and she’s been talking occasionally like usual.

The feeling in my right arm is still something I’m adjusting to but at least my body is feeling stronger.

Maybe I do know the next step forward after all. Learning how to use Aether’s power so that I can start hunting zierel… that is the best option in my opinion.

Honestly it might not be a bad idea to head back to the academy either, not that I want to go back or anything.

I just know that it could be beneficial in some ways that I didn’t really think about originally. Learning through classes isn’t really something I enjoy, but I might be able to talk with alice more.

She could help with some information about powers and magic.

I pace around the room with a bit of frustration.

Airi also knows a lot about this stuff since she is a light bearer; they would probably know more than humans. This is really difficult to decide on.

I’ve only been outside the academy for a month and I don’t think I’ve done a whole lot.

“You killed a zierel and managed to awaken a power within yourself,” the woman interrupts.

I did do that, how could I forget about the kill before meeting Airi? The power is also a pretty big deal so I guess I have accomplished a bit since leaving.

“Exactly. Going back to the academy is pointless since they’ll want you away from combat for awhile,

” The woman replies with a casual tone.

Going back would definitely do that… I can’t say you are wrong in saying that in the slightest. Staying out here guarantees that I’ll be able to fight when I’m ready to do so again.

Finally I stop pacing around as I look down at my right hand. The thought of the sword being there is all I begin to focus on.

After a second passes by… The sword forms within my hand once again, this time it isn’t going away so quickly. So I tighten my grip on the handle as I lift it up.

“I’ll make sure to treat your sword with care Aether,” I say while lifting it up.

I begin to swing the sword around while trying to adjust to the weight of the sword; it isn’t heavy but it isn’t light either.

Slash! Slash!

Each swings kind of feels natural, almost like the sword belongs in my hand.

“I didn’t expect to come in to you swinging the sword around,” Airi speaks up with a surprised tone.

“Honestly I didn’t think it could appear easily like this again,” I reply while looking at the sword.

“You must have quite the soul for it to be out like that, at least that’s my guess,” Airi says while moving closer.

I turn to see Airi standing right in front of me, only a couple of inches away from my face.

“Everything okay Airi?” I ask nervously.

I didn’t think I could feel much after everything that happened but here I am… Nervous.

“I want you to make me a promise,” Airi answers with a serious expression on her face.

“What’s the promise?” I ask while forcing myself to calm down.

“Promise me that you won’t give in to your infection or join the zierel,” She responds.

The squirming around in my arm is all I notice as Airi tells me what she wants me to promise. It isn’t painful but she’s definitely not too happy about what I’m being asked to promise.

“I promise I won’t give in to the infection or join the zierel,” I say with a serious tone.

My grip on the sword tightens once again as I shift my gaze towards it.

Aether trusts me with this power enough to let me use it so I need to do the right thing. Even the infection knows I’m planning to kill more Zierel and it encourages it.

I don’t think Airi would understand if I told her anything that I’ve talked about with the woman.

She might assume the worse and I don’t think I could blame her for doing that. Zierel don’t seem like the greatest species to be talking to regardless of what they can do.

“Thank you Liam,” Airi replies with a smile on her face now.

After that she leaves the room again, leaving me by myself to practice with this sword. Getting use to swinging it around is the best way to utilize the remainder of the day, especially since it isn’t going away.

So for a couple hours I swing the sword around relentlessly until my arm is finally exhausted.

With that I fall back onto my bed, my eyes locked on the ceiling .

Airi should be showing me how to fight over the next few days since I can keep the sword out now. That will be the best experience for quite some time.

At least until I can go out and fight against hybrid zierel… Not that I really know where to find them.

Even normal zierel lurk around without making themselves completely known. I’ll be hunting like they do, how interesting it is to think about that all.

Hunting them down like they hunt down humans.

“Maybe rely on me a bit instead of tossing me to the side asshole,” The woman speaks up with anger in her voice.

“I’ll trust the voice of an infection who hasn’t even given me her name,” I reply sarcastically.

“I would love to share it with you but it isn’t the right time just yet,” She says with frustration.

“Yet I’m willing to sound crazy to talk out loud to you,” I reply while staring at the ceiling.

Trusting people in a world covered in darkness isn’t really easy if I’m being honest. Airi is only an exception because she is a light bearer and I haven’t been given any reason not to trust her.

I’ve also made a promise that I intend to keep.

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